The Phoenix Suns have the 47th pick in this year’s NBA Draft, and with the progress made in head coach Jordan Ott’s first year at the helm it will define how quickly they get back to being playoff regulars.
Suns must nail position of selection to accelerate re-tool around Booker
The Suns have an important offseason ahead in deciding what to do with several key players, and picking a rookie at a position where they can actually contribute in year one would be massive for raising the ceiling in The Valley.
That might seem like a tall order for a second pick, but the franchise has quietly made some solid selections in recent years that have actually helped the roster. Toumani Camara will always be the one that got away, while Ryan Dunn has so far failed to come close to the Mikal Bridges comparisons, although there is still time. But Oso Ighodaro is proof that a youngster can help this team win.
The 23-year-old a second round pick himself who through two seasons has played right across the frontcourt. Although he struggled mightily as an undersized center at a time when the Suns were lacking in that area, he is much more comfortable in that role now.
So the Suns have shown they can identify talent (not just in the draft but through the signing of free agents as well) and now must make the right selection that fits with the long-term vision coach Ott has in place. A point guard seems an obvious place to start, but expecting a second round pick to run this team successfully from the jump is a massive ask.
You can never have too many forwards who can both defend and score some, and that kind of player could have the greatest impact in the shortest amount of home. With the organization so far non-committal on extending Dillon Brooks, perhaps somebody like that is what bridges the gap from one version of this roster to the next.
Another center seems unlikely, they have their project in Khaman Maluach and it can take years for young bigs to get truly comfortable in the NBA. With the future of Mark Williams also unclear however, the Suns could yet spring a surprise.
Had the Suns won 25 games last season there would have been far less urgency to have this pick produce right away. But with Booker approaching 30 and other youngsters such as Rasheer Fleming already ahead of schedule, the front office has a chance to get back into the Western Conference mix with the right kind of player in the right position to get minutes in this rotation.
No pressure then everybody.
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